The Programme Here is the perfect opportunity to combine a unique photographic programme with a relaxing holiday on a very special Greek island. You do not need to be an advanced photographer as all levels of ability are welcome. The aim of the programme is to develop your perception and awareness skills, rather than focusing on technical matters. It is not intensive tuition and you will have at least two full free days to do whatever you choose. Our holiday programmes are relaxed week long courses usually beginning on Sifnos around mid/late April and taking in the celebrations of the Greek Easter. We are planning further holidays at the end of June and the beginning of September 2002. Full details will be included in our brochure and information pack At the start of the holiday the course programme will be set out, and if needed, adapted to suit individuals. A maximum of only ten people will be in the group, which often will be split up for more personal attention. Feel free to bring whatever photographic equipment you wish, but our advice is to keep it simple and light considering the warm climate. A small tripod is recommended mainly for night shots. We will extensively travel the island selecting the most photogenic retreats. Although landscape photography will feature in the holiday, (and here keen hikers will be rewarded with some beautiful walks), we will also be attempting to capture the many other faces and images of Sifnos. The pictures on this Web sites pages have been selected to provide a flavour of the island and are an indication of what to expect. Where but in Greece could you rise at dawn to photograph the sunrise over a sea edged monastery, then the sometimes mid-morning chaos when the ferry from Athens drops anchor, a late and leisurely ouzo lunch overlooking the Aegean, and finally an early evening wedding at a picture book church where the bride arrives by fishing boat. Like many Greek islands Sifnos has many festivals and fiestas throughout its calendar, all providing marvellous photo opportunities. Local character studies will also feature in the curriculum. You will be encouraged to shoot in black and white as well as colour. In Apollonia there is a photo processing facility enabling us to view our efforts throughout the holiday. We will also have slide shows and discussions when we can pool our experiences and bounce ideas off each other.

About Sifnos Sifnos is truly idyllic and lies in the Western region of the Cycladic Islands. There is no airport and the only way there is by sea - 75 nautical miles from Piraeus, the port of Athens. The island has a population of around 2000 people who support themselves with agriculture, cattle breeding, fishing, and in the summer months tourism. Sifnos is well known for its pottery and cuisine. The chefs are famous throughout Greece, but of late a few have moved away to the more lucrative mainland Kamares, the port where the ferries and hydrofoils dock, boasts an enviable choice of harbour side tavernas, bakeries, workshops and a few small hotels. Apollonia is the charming island capital, just a ten minute ride up the winding road from the port. Many visitors use Apollonia as their base, as it is a convenient starting place, courtesy of the excellent bus service, to the attractive fishing villages of Vathy, Faros, and the old fortress town of Kastro. Life on Sifnos is generally less hectic than ours and the word "urgent" sometimes gets confused with "maybe tomorrow" which is how it should be when enjoying a Greek holiday. Be prepared to be tolerant, and if you go along with the Sifniot pace of life you will have a wonderful time and return home with many memorable images of Sifnos. Mark Ottaway writes of Sifnos in his book "The Most Beautiful Villages of Greece and the Greek Islands": "Despite or rather just possibly because of its relative obscurity (few people who don't know Greece have ever heard of Sifnos), this is one of the most remarkable of the Greek islands." For Information on Sifnos see Matt's Sifnos Page at www.greektravel.com/sifnos

About Us Gerry Murray, who has taken all the images in these Web pages, will be your photographic tutor during your stay on Sifnos. His first visit here was in 1992 and he has since returned many times. With over 30 years experience as a professional photographer, specialising in media, theatre and travel photography - in black and white as well as in colour - he has staged many of his own exhibitions around the country. Gerry formed the Images of Sifnos company after a successful week long course in April 1999. His teaching style is relaxed but informative, concentrating more on ideas, composition and picture awareness rather than the technical side.

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